[pamela]

Can anyone help identify these two plants that I have growing here.  They are somewhat dry and stressed but cope quite well in these conditions. Thanks

[Alisdair]

It looks to me more like a mint, Pamela, perhaps peppermint, Mentha piperata.

[pamela]

Thanks Alisdair, but definitely not mint. It has a quite unusual strong highly perfumed smell.  I think both are origanum but I don't know which. One has a tiny leaf but its not like the origanum that you find as seeds for culinary purposes. Its much more of a shrub.  The other has a larger leaf and appears to seed easily.

[Jamus]

Bottom one LOOKS like Mentha sauveolens, but I trust your nose pamela... although keep in mind that there are cultivars of M. sauveolens with odd perfumes...

I have a few Origanums, but I'm not an expert by a long shot. The top one looks for all the World like Greek oregano, Origanum Vulgare ssp. viride.

[oron peri]

First photo is out of focus, still i would say Origanum majorana while the second is Mentha x rotundifolia. which is an hybrid between M. longifolia and M. suaveolens.

[pamela]

Thanks Oron
While I definitely agree with you on the first picture.  I am still not convinced the second one is a Mentha.  There is absolutely no mint smell. My question is 'do all menthas smell of mint? 

I have done quite a bit of research on the net and am wondering if it might be Origanum syriacum ......Just a thought.

[Jamus]

I have Origanum syriaca growing here and it is not a good match Pamela. Quite a different looking plant.

[oron peri]

Pamela

It is not O. syriacum as Jamus also said.

One of the parents of Mentha rotundifolia is M. longifolia which has a different scent [not minty] and not very pleasent, this is probably the origin of the scent you mentioned.

 

[pamela]

I am pretty sure Oron is right but to be absolutely honest I am not really sure.  There are so many different pictures around on the web.   But I am NOW sure it is a  Lamiaceae as it has the traits....anyway I think its in the too hard basket for me.! Thank you too Jamus for your help.